Wall structure



Feb. 6, 1962 -r. F. KEARNS, JR 3,019,863

WALL STRUCTURE Filed May 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 77 77 7? INVENTOR.

7 24 Flam/15F fl EflEN-scfa Lt BY Feb. 6, 1962 T, F. KEARNS, JR 3,019,863

WALL STRUCTURE Filed May 21, 1959 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EX 3\ f IN V EN TOR.

wwvw

Feb. 6, 1962 F. KEARNS, JR 3,019,863

WALL STRUCTURE Filed May 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent WALL gTRUCTURE Thomas F. Kearns, Jr., New York, N.Y., assignor to General Steel Products Corp, Flushing, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 21, 1959, Ser. No. 814,871 9 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to wall siding or partition structures and to the method and means for securing such structures in position either over finished walls, or as a finished wall supported by the building framing, or as partitions between finished walls.

Constructions of this class are known in the art, and much effort has been expended in the development of various wall structures. However, the present invention contemplates a completely new and different combination of parts that yields several advantages over those known constructions. Thus, as a result of the present concept there is provided a wall structure that is relatively simple in construction and which may be assembled and dis assembled with great facility. In this connection the present concept also contributes a novel method of assembling such structure. v

In essence, the present invention resides in the utilization of a panel, or a series of panels, at least one elongate locking bar arranged for interlocking engagement with parts of the panels, and clips mounted on supporting structure and urging the locking bar and panels into interlocking engagement while the clips themselves also engage parts of the panels and the locking bar to retain the same in assembled position relatively to the supporting structure.

As a particular feature of the present invention, the panels are formed with flanges along their vertical edges, and they may have additional flanges spaced between the end flanges, each of the flanges being formed with corresponding slots to receive the elongate locking bar thus locking adjacent panels together. The locking 'bar may take the form of a flat metal bar that has a series of kerfs extending inwardly from its lower edge, these kerfs being spaced to correspond to the slots in the panel flanges. Thus, in the assembled structure, the kerfs actually receive portions of the panel flanges therein wherefore the panels and locking bar are mutually interlocked. A further important feature of the present invention resides in means for supporting the assembled panels and locking bar in position relatively to supporting structure such as building framing, for example. For this purpose clips are provided that are mounted on or secured to the supporting structure and extend towards the panel flanges. Each clip is preferably formed of flat resilient stock and is recessed at its end adjacent its respective panel flange so as to receive the flange in therecess. The recess forms a pair of tongues at the end of the clip and these tongues are bent at their ends to provide depending tabs which engage a side surface of the locking bar. locking bar in a direction to maintain its interlocked relationship with the panel flanges. As an important aspect of this feature of the invention, it will be understood that the supporting strueture may itself be a series of assembled panels, or a single panel in which case the clips are similarly formed at both ends, the final assembly in this event constituting a double-faced partition, for example. V

An additional aspect of the invention resides in the utilization of a coping member which may be conveniently mounted atop a partition formed in accordance with the invention merely by placing it along the upperend of the partition and sliding it a short distance therealong to The resilient characteristics of the clips urge the bring locking elements thereon into engagement with looking elemens formed on the panel flanges. Similarly, a footing or base member may underlie the partition.

It will be appreciated that the present contribution also comprehends a novel method of assembling a wall structure as will be made clear hereinafter.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the most important features of the present invention in order that a detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereafter and which will form the subject of claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which the present disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for designing other structures for carrying out the several purposes of this invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the concept and scope of this invention.

A specific embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in phantom, of a portion of a partition formed in accord ance with the present concept;

FIG. la is a perspective view of a footing or base member and a coping member;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a locking bar;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a panel assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the partition shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a portion of the partition taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view through a panel and illustrating a clip nailed to the building framing; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of part of the partition and illustrating means of fastening the clip to one of the bars.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 1a thereof, there is shown a partition assembly formed of spaced opposed, back to back, panels 11 having spaced inwardly directed flanges '12. It will be understood that the panels 11 may be unitary with end and intermediate flanges 12, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, or that separate panels having end flanges may be assembled in side by side relation to comprise the panel assembly. Each of the flanges 12 is formed with upper and lower openings or slots 14 and 15, respectively, intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to receive elongate locking bars 16 therethrough. It will be understood that these slots may be open-sided if desired, having side openings at least large enough to receive the Width of the locking bar at its kerfed portions. If such slots are used, the openings will be adjacent the upper portions of the slots.

As shown in FIG. 2, the locking bars '16 are flat members provided with a series of kerfs 17 which are spaced so as to correspond to the distance between the flanges 12. The lower corners of the locking bars 16 may be chamfered or beveled as at 19, for the purpose later to be described.

- The flanges 12 may also be formed with additional slots 20 and 21 and are stepped as at 23 adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. These slots 2% and 21 receive fingers 22 which are mounted on similar base and coping members 24 and 25, respectively, and which extend longitudinally thereof at intervals spaced in accordance with the spacing between the flanges. In this way, the base and coping members may be integrated with the partition merely by moving them longitudinally relatively to the flanges until the fingers engage their respective slots, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The base and coping members may take any convenient shape, but are here shown as U-shaped in crosssection.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the opposed panels 11 and locking bars 16 are shown held in spaced, assembled relation by clips 26. These clips are formed of flat, resilient stock and have body portions 27 with a tab 29, depending from each end thereof. Recesses 30 are formed in the tabs and extend partially into the body portion to provide oppositely facing abutment surfaces 31. The clips are so placed that the recessesSh receive opposed flanges 12 until the same abut the surfaces 31 wherefore the opposed panels 11 are held in the proper spaced relation. The body portions of the clips extend just beyond the locking bars 16 so that the tabs 29 depending from the ends of the body portions engage the outer side surfaces of the locking bars wherefore the locking bars, and consequently the panels with which they are interlocked, are held against movement in a direction away from the clips.

it will be noted that the panel surfaces, which may be conveniently formed of sheet metal, have spaced holes 32 drawn therein by which suitable sound deadening insulation board 34 and other surface finish materials may be attached to the panels. The holes 32 may, of course, be omitted and the panel itself may be painted or enameled, for example, to constitute the finished surface.

In erecting a panel assembly over building framing, for example, one side of the clips 26 may be attached to the framing which thus serves as supporting structure, as by nailing in suitable spaced disposition, as shown in FIG. 7. If a base member 24- is used, it may be set in place slightly offset longitudinally from its final position. The panel or panels are set up with their flange members 12 projecting into the recesses so of the clips until they abut the surfaces 31 wherefore the panels will be properly aligned. Locking bars 16 are then slid into the slots 14 in the flange members from one end of the assembly, the forward beveled surface 19 serving to cam the bars upwarddy against the resilient bias of the clips and into each slot as it is encountered. When the kerfs 17 register with the slots 14, the resilience of the clips 26 will force the locking bars downwardly, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 6, to effect the interlocking engagement between the locking bars 16 and the flange members 12. If, while inserting the bar, the kerfs 17 are urged into interlocking engagement with the flanges 12 before the bar is fully inserted, it may be lifted against the bias of the clips and inserted further; or to avoid this situation altogether, the spacing between the flanges may be staggered irregularly, in which case the kerf spacing will be correspondingly staggered. The tabs 29 on the clips adjacent the locking bars are thus disposed against the outer surface of the bars to hold the same, and the panels, against movement away from the supporting structure. The base member is then shifted longitudinally so that the fingers 22 enter the lower flange member slots 21. If a coping member is used, it is extended along the top of the panel assembly and moved longitudinally until its fingers 22 enter slots 20 in the upper ends of the flange members.

To disassemble such an assembly, the base and coping members may be shifted longitudinally until their fingers disengage the slots 21 and 20, respectively, and the locking bars 16 are then lifted against the resilient force of the clips 26 and slid longitudinally out of the slots 14 in the flange members whereby the panel or panels may be removed.

As has been stated heretofore, the supporting structure may itself be an oppositely facing panel assembly as in the formation of a partition assembly as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this case, one panel assembly is set up with the locking bars in place and the clips may preferably be fastened in place thereon as by brazing or spot welding, for example, as indicated at 28 in FIG. 8. The opposed panel assembly may then be set up as already described.

As an example of another method of assembly of the panel assemblies, the clips may be fastened in place and the panels and locking bars mutually sub-assembled. The sub-assembly may then be tilted relatively to the supporting structure and lifted so as to slide the locking bars under the clips and inwardly of the depending tabs 29 as the sub-assembly is moved to a vertical position.

It will be understood that the side walls of the base and coping members 24 and 25' may be disposed exteriorly relatively to the panels, in which case the fingers 22 may fit into exterior slotted tabs (not shown) adjacent the upper and lower portions of the panels, or the fingers may be mounted on the exterior surface of the panels to engage slotted tabs on the inner surfaces of the base and coping side walls.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present novel concept contributes an exceedingly simple and effective wall structure and method of assembling the same whereby the wall structure mayquickly be erected and disassembled with relative ease and without the need of special skills or tools.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An assembly of the class described comprising a panel provided with a flange member, an elongate member, said members having corresponding elements thereon adapted for interlocking engagement, and clip means adapted to be mounted on supporting structure and to urge said corresponding elements into interlocking engagement while itself engaging said members to retain the same in assembled position relatively to the supporting structure.

2. An assembly of the class described comprising a panel provided with a flange member having locking elements thereon, an elongate locking bar member adapted for interlocking engagement with said flange member through said locking elements, and resilient clip means adapted-to be mounted on supporting structure to urge said members into interlocking engagement, said locking bar members being movable against the force of said resilient clip means to effect disengagement thereof relatively to said flange member.

3. An assembly of the class described comprising a panel provided with spaced flange means, said flange means having corresponding retaining means, an elongate locking bar extending. between said spaced flange means and engaging the corresponding retaining means, and clip members mounted on supporting structure opposite said flange means and formed with means engaging the corresponding flange means to prevent movement of said panel structure in one direction relatively to said supporting structure and also with means engaging said locking bar to prevent movement of said bar and panel connected theretothrough said retaining means in the opposed direction relatively to said supporting structure.

4. An assembly of the class described comprising a panel. provided with flange means having corresponding openings therein, an elongate locking bar extending through said openings and having transverse slots registering with said openings and thus each receiving a portion of said flange means, and a resilient clip member mounted on supporting structure and formed with means engaging said flange means to prevent movement of said panel structure in one direction relatively to said supporting structure, and engaging said locking bar to prevent movement of said bar and panel interlocked therewith in the opposed direction relatively to said supporting structure, said clip member also urging said bar in a direction to positively interlock said panel and bar where said openings and slots register.

5. An assembly of the class described comprising panels each provided with flange members adapted to be disposed adjacent flange members of neighboring panels when said panels are disposed edge to edge, an elongate locking member adapted for interlocking engagement with said flange members, and resilient clip means mounted on supporting structure and urging said locking member into interlocking engagement with said flange members while restraining said flange and locking members to prevent movement of said panels in either of a plurality of directions relatively to said supporting structure, said locking member being movable against the force of said resilient clip means to eifect disengagement thereof relatively to said flange members.

6. A partition of the class described comprising opposed panels in spaced back to back relationship provided with corresponding flange members, elongate locking means adapted for interlocking engagement with the flange members of said spaced panels, and clip means and formed with slots spaced to register with said openings to effect interlocking therebetween.

8. A partition in accordance with claim 7, wherein said clip means includes a resilient member recessed to receive corresponding flange members of said opposed panels, the recesses providing tongues overlying said locking means, and said tongues being formedwith parts engaging the remote sides of said locking means.

9. In an assembly of the class described including a panel provided with a flange member, and an elongate locking bar adapted for interlocking engagement with said flange member, the improvement comprising: a clip having a flap, resilient body portion, tab means depending from the body portion, and a recess in the tab means at the end of said body portion and extending into said body portion adapted to receive said flange member, said body portion engaging said locking bar and retaining same in locking engagement with said flange member, and said body portion having abutment means at the end of said recess against which said flange means is adapted to bear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,281 Lawlor Nov. 17, 1936 2,611,460 Nash Sept. 23, 1952 2,766,855 Johnson et al Oct. 16, 1956 2,792,595 Lintott May 21, 1957 2,824,775 Sitler Feb. 25, 1958 2,862,585 McChesney Dec. 2, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,074 Great Britain Aug. 14, 1939 

